Ravenclaw students tend to be clever, witty, intelligent, and knowledgeable. Notable residents include Cho Chang and Padma Patil (objects of Harry and Ron's affections), and Luna Lovegood (daughter of The Quibbler magazine's editor).

Ravenclaw students tend to be clever, witty, intelligent, and knowledgeable. Notable residents include Cho Chang and Padma Patil (objects of Harry and Ron's affections), and Luna Lovegood (daughter of The Quibbler magazine's editor).

Okay, usually weird dreams are just something I expect with this screwed-up mind of mine, but this one I can't shake, nor can I figure out why it's got me so damn depressed today.

I'm walking into what I recognize as the tiny town/neighborhood I grew up in, (Tecumseh, KS, for those that know it,) and there's a Civil War reenactment going on. The Confederates are losing, badly; I look closer and there are no Union troops, just dying Confederate soldiers. This seems significant for some reason. ( Read more... )

Okay, usually weird dreams are just something I expect with this screwed-up mind of mine, but this one I can't shake, nor can I figure out why it's got me so damn depressed today.

I'm walking into what I recognize as the tiny town/neighborhood I grew up in, (Tecumseh, KS, for those that know it,) and there's a Civil War reenactment going on. The Confederates are losing, badly; I look closer and there are no Union troops, just dying Confederate soldiers. This seems significant for some reason. ( Read more... )

I don't usually pass along the recipes I get (I'm on the Food Network mailing list), but this one, for horseradish-crusted brisket, sounds fantastic. Wish I had the capability to try it, but alas, toaster ovens just don't mix well with Dutch ovens.

I don't usually pass along the recipes I get (I'm on the Food Network mailing list), but this one, for horseradish-crusted brisket, sounds fantastic. Wish I had the capability to try it, but alas, toaster ovens just don't mix well with Dutch ovens.

I've been thinking about this subject a lot over the last couple of weeks. America has become a culture over the course of my life where bullying has become the accepted norm...and I'm tired of it.

I know what it's like to be the victim of a schoolyard bully; I was in judo lessons in *first grade* for self-defense. Funny; the bullying stopped when the simple fact was made known in the school. I've never had to use those skills but once, and that was a bully in high school.

I know what it's like to be abused by someone in a position of power. My fifth grade teacher was the kind of utter bastard I'd like to see run through a chipper/shredder these days...and his brother, the corrupt former police chief of my home town was just as bad. Never laid a finger on me, but I spent that entire year *terrified*; and worse, my parents didn't believe it until they experienced it first-hand. Had the son-of-a-bitch not been tenured, his teaching career would have ended the day he mistook Mom for one of his students and slapped her ass to get her in the classroom. Two years later, Dad paid him a personal visit to explain why my little sister wouldn't be in his classroom, after he found out about the bastard's habit of giving all the little girls "birthday spankings".

My original Cub Scout pack decided they weren't going to give me my earned awards. Why? Because I didn't attend their church. Dad reported them to the BSA Council and *started a competing pack*, just to put a stop to that.

Seeing the kind of thuggishness the TSA is perpetrating these days in the name of "security" makes me sick to my stomach. We don't have to go through this kind of utter crap to enter a hospital, or a state or Federal courthouse, or the fucking halls of Congress; Hell, the White House tours don't even have this kind of "security", so why the *fuck* should I put up with it to get on a plane? They aren't doing this for any nebulous "security"; they're doing it because they're on a power trip, plain and simple. The next step, if they're not stopped, will be mandatory strip-searches and issuing paper coveralls and booties to every aircraft passenger, because, after all, that's the only way to be *absolutely* sure no one smuggles anything aboard the flight.

So, that's it. I have had enough. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Mom and Dad raised me better. I will not allow myself, or others, to be bullied any more, have I the power to stop it. "I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." as Thomas Jefferson said. Simply put, I will not stand for bullying of any sort, anywhere, any longer.

I plan on writing my Congresscritters tonight regarding the TSA's excesses; and until they are reined in, I flatly refuse to fly anywhere, period. I will not be treated as a criminal before I'm tried and convicted in a court of law, and pay money for the privilege.

Amber, if you're reading this, let me know and I will come get you and yours this weekend. You don't have to put up with your situation if I can help in any way.

The Second American Revolution starts here. Bullies can change their ways or get the fuck out of mine. I will not tolerate it any more, anywhere I can make a difference. Who's with me?

I've been thinking about this subject a lot over the last couple of weeks. America has become a culture over the course of my life where bullying has become the accepted norm...and I'm tired of it.

I know what it's like to be the victim of a schoolyard bully; I was in judo lessons in *first grade* for self-defense. Funny; the bullying stopped when the simple fact was made known in the school. I've never had to use those skills but once, and that was a bully in high school.

I know what it's like to be abused by someone in a position of power. My fifth grade teacher was the kind of utter bastard I'd like to see run through a chipper/shredder these days...and his brother, the corrupt former police chief of my home town was just as bad. Never laid a finger on me, but I spent that entire year *terrified*; and worse, my parents didn't believe it until they experienced it first-hand. Had the son-of-a-bitch not been tenured, his teaching career would have ended the day he mistook Mom for one of his students and slapped her ass to get her in the classroom. Two years later, Dad paid him a personal visit to explain why my little sister wouldn't be in his classroom, after he found out about the bastard's habit of giving all the little girls "birthday spankings".

My original Cub Scout pack decided they weren't going to give me my earned awards. Why? Because I didn't attend their church. Dad reported them to the BSA Council and *started a competing pack*, just to put a stop to that.

Seeing the kind of thuggishness the TSA is perpetrating these days in the name of "security" makes me sick to my stomach. We don't have to go through this kind of utter crap to enter a hospital, or a state or Federal courthouse, or the fucking halls of Congress; Hell, the White House tours don't even have this kind of "security", so why the *fuck* should I put up with it to get on a plane? They aren't doing this for any nebulous "security"; they're doing it because they're on a power trip, plain and simple. The next step, if they're not stopped, will be mandatory strip-searches and issuing paper coveralls and booties to every aircraft passenger, because, after all, that's the only way to be *absolutely* sure no one smuggles anything aboard the flight.

So, that's it. I have had enough. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Mom and Dad raised me better. I will not allow myself, or others, to be bullied any more, have I the power to stop it. "I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." as Thomas Jefferson said. Simply put, I will not stand for bullying of any sort, anywhere, any longer.

I plan on writing my Congresscritters tonight regarding the TSA's excesses; and until they are reined in, I flatly refuse to fly anywhere, period. I will not be treated as a criminal before I'm tried and convicted in a court of law, and pay money for the privilege.

Amber, if you're reading this, let me know and I will come get you and yours this weekend. You don't have to put up with your situation if I can help in any way.

The Second American Revolution starts here. Bullies can change their ways or get the fuck out of mine. I will not tolerate it any more, anywhere I can make a difference. Who's with me?

It’s been decided. On October 20th, 2010, we will wear purple in honor of the 6 gay boys who committed suicide in recent weeks/months due to homophobic abuse in their homes at at their schools. Purple represents Spirit on the LGBTQ flag and that’s exactly what we’d like all of you to have with you: spirit. Please know that times will get better and that you will meet people who will love you and respect you for who you are, no matter your sexuality. Please wear purple on October 20th. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and schools.

It’s been decided. On October 20th, 2010, we will wear purple in honor of the 6 gay boys who committed suicide in recent weeks/months due to homophobic abuse in their homes at at their schools. Purple represents Spirit on the LGBTQ flag and that’s exactly what we’d like all of you to have with you: spirit. Please know that times will get better and that you will meet people who will love you and respect you for who you are, no matter your sexuality. Please wear purple on October 20th. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and schools.

The 4th annual St. Louis Pirate Festival is sailing into St. Louisthis weekend, September 11-12.

The rumpus continues for the following two weekends on September18-19 and September 25-26. The woodlands of Rotary Park will betransformed into the rollicking Caribbean seaport of Fort Royal onthe island of Martinique. As you stroll through the town, youllenjoy musicians, merchants, purveyors of food and drink, comedians,fire performers, belly dancersand of course, lots of pirates, fromdashing rogues to scurvy knaves.

This is the fall festival brought to you by Renaissance St. Louis,Inc., the same people who create the St. Louis Renaissance Faire. Ifyouve never been to the Pirate Festival, youll find it delivers thesame kind of interactive fun as the Faire, but with a distinctivelydifferent flavorthe Golden Age of Piracy! If youve been to theFestival before, youll experience new treats this year, includingCaptn Blacks Sea Dogs original and traditional music aboutpirates, and Ez N Dils unique blend of Irish music with folk,gospel, and silly songs for the whole family.

So X marks the spot on your calendar on Saturday and Sundays,September 11-12, 18-19, and 25-26.

Were making it even easier to bring your family and friends withthis coupon, a buy-one-get-one-free for this first weekend. Justprint it out and bring it to the entrance gate this Saturday orSunday. You can also find it on our website www.stlpiratefest.com<http://www.renstl.org/docs/flyers/pf_flyer_coupon2010.pdf>

The 4th annual St. Louis Pirate Festival is sailing into St. Louisthis weekend, September 11-12.

The rumpus continues for the following two weekends on September18-19 and September 25-26. The woodlands of Rotary Park will betransformed into the rollicking Caribbean seaport of Fort Royal onthe island of Martinique. As you stroll through the town, youllenjoy musicians, merchants, purveyors of food and drink, comedians,fire performers, belly dancersand of course, lots of pirates, fromdashing rogues to scurvy knaves.

This is the fall festival brought to you by Renaissance St. Louis,Inc., the same people who create the St. Louis Renaissance Faire. Ifyouve never been to the Pirate Festival, youll find it delivers thesame kind of interactive fun as the Faire, but with a distinctivelydifferent flavorthe Golden Age of Piracy! If youve been to theFestival before, youll experience new treats this year, includingCaptn Blacks Sea Dogs original and traditional music aboutpirates, and Ez N Dils unique blend of Irish music with folk,gospel, and silly songs for the whole family.

So X marks the spot on your calendar on Saturday and Sundays,September 11-12, 18-19, and 25-26.

Were making it even easier to bring your family and friends withthis coupon, a buy-one-get-one-free for this first weekend. Justprint it out and bring it to the entrance gate this Saturday orSunday. You can also find it on our website www.stlpiratefest.com<http://www.renstl.org/docs/flyers/pf_flyer_coupon2010.pdf>